WHEN YOU GET AN ESTIMATE

1. Get a Quality Estimate, Not Just the Lowest One

Make sure that the repair shop is qualified and thorough enough to find all the damage. And make sure that the estimate quoted will be an amount sufficient to repair the property to the highest standards. If you just get the lowest estimate -- taking your car to the corner gas station, for example, you may find that the amount quoted will not be enough to cover the repairs you eventually have done at a quality repair shop.

2. Watch Out for Low-Ball Estimates

You should always get your own inspections and estimates from independent repair shops. If two or three independent estimates are higher than the one insurance company estimate, the insurance company’s estimate is probably a poor one. Repairs should be made only by a shop chosen by the car owner, regardless of how much money the car owner receives in settlement.